A new deep‑sea catshark, Apristurus drona (Arabian slender catshark), was described from specimens collected off Sakthikulangara on the Kollam coast; the description was published in Zootaxa in June 2026.
Taxonomy & identity
- Scientific name: Apristurus drona; common name Arabian slender catshark.
- Family: Scyliorhinidae (catsharks).
- Publication: Species description published in Zootaxa following morphological and molecular analyses.
Type specimens & collection
- Specimens: Four collected (two males, two females); total lengths 439–473 mm.
- Source: Recovered as bycatch from deep‑sea shrimp trawlers operating off southwest India.
- Depth range: 400–650 metres along the Kollam continental slope.
Genetics & phylogenetic placement
- Molecular marker: Mitochondrial COI gene used for DNA barcoding.
- Genetic divergence: 5.5–5.7% COI divergence from nearest known Apristurus species.
- Affinity: Forms a distinct lineage closely related to Pacific and New Zealand Apristurus species.
Distribution & status
- Range: Known from Kollam slope and vicinity of Wadge Bank on the Arabian Sea continental margin.
- Abundance & use: Extremely rare in collections and of no commercial value.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Zootaxa: International peer‑reviewed journal specialising in taxonomic descriptions.
- DNA barcoding standard: COI is the global standard for animal species identification under BIN/Barcode initiatives.
- Wadge Bank: Submerged bank off SW India on the Laccadive–Chagos Ridge, important for continental‑slope biodiversity surveys.